LAKKI MARWAT: The education department has asked the heads of the high and higher secondary schools in both the public and private sectors to install close circuit television cameras in the examination halls for transparent conduct of the upcoming matriculation examinations.

An official said on Saturday that the provincial government had decided to install CCTV cameras in examination centres for effective surveillance during the examinations.

At a recent meeting, the provincial education minister had stressed the need for installation of CCTV cameras for transparent and cheating-free conduct of SSC examinations, he maintained.

He said the local education department officials shared the decisions taken at the meeting with the heads of schools for strict compliance.

The official said the Bannu education board had set up examination centres in both the public and private schools, and directed their heads to install CCTV cameras there.

“The schools’ heads have also been directed to ensure the CCTV cameras function properly,” he said, adding the CCTV cameras would be linked to a surveillance system at the Bannu board enabling the authorities to carry out online monitoring of examinations.

SHOPS SEALED: The administration sealed a plaza and 36 shops over violations of SOPs against Covid-19 in Naurang town on Saturday.

Additional assistant commissioner Aminullah Khan paid a surprise visit to the bazaars to check implementation of precautions against the coronavirus pandemic by the traders.

A number of shopkeepers kept their outlets opened despite lockdown.

The official sealed all such outlets and also fined the violators.

Mr Aminullah also ordered arrest of two butchers in the sasta bazaar over violation of the official price list.

In Bannu, deputy commissioner Mohammad Zubair Niazi banned sale of toy guns and firecrackers in the district. An official said the display and brandishing of weapons had also been banned during Ramazan.

He said the deputy commissioner had also asked the traders to observe SOPs for their own and others’ safety.

The official said during a meeting also attended by DPO Imran Shahid, the deputy commissioner said the positivity rate in Bannu district had reached 13 per cent which was alarming.

He made clear that the administration won’t compromise on strict implementation of the precautions against Covid-19.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2021